Gladys B. Kern
Gladys Brown Kern, 84, of Winchester, Virginia, died Thursday, September 23, 2010 at a local nursing home.
Mrs. Kern was born 1926, in Front Royal, Virginia, the daughter of the late Effie Brown and Lennis P. Brown. Gladys was an active member of the Braddock Street United Methodist Church and the Wesley Sunday School Class, before her health failed. She was a past president of the Fremont Street Nursery and very active among many charities and civic projects in the area. Gladys was an avid duplicate bridge player, and in 1980 earned the Life Master Certificate from the American Contract Bridge League.
Her husband, Henry P. “Tookie” Kern Jr., whom she married February 2, 1944 in Winchester, Virginia, preceded her in death in 1992. A brother, Lennis “Bootie” Brown of Front Royal, Virginia, also precedes her in death.
She is survived by her son, Henry P. “Took” Kern III, a grand daughter and her husband, Carrie Kern Luebcke and Christopher Luebcke, a great grand son, Henry Thatcher Luebcke, all of Winchester; a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela Kern Walling and Robert J. Walling, of Bridgeport, WV; a brother and sister-in law, Ronald P. Brown and Doris Brown of Bradenton, FL; and a sister-in law, June Brown of Front Royal, VA.
A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 27, at Braddock Street United Methodist Church, with Rev. Dr. James A. Hewitt III officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.
Pallbearers will be Ron Brown II, Trey Brown, Jeff LeHew, Christopher D. Luebcke, Richard D. Kern Jr., Trey Kern, Robert P. Kern and Robert J. Walling. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Thomas Apostle, David Denham, Dr. Randolph Jackson, Richard D. Kern, Robert Kern, Walter Pugh, John Reid, Timothy Riley, Ralph Shockey, Bill Tilling, and Charles Zuckerman.
The family offers special thanks to the caregivers and helpers that were with Mrs. Kern in her home for the last seven years and the hospice and caregivers in the nursing home. You all were truly a blessing to Mrs. Kern and the family. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 26, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Organ Fund, Braddock Street United Methodist Church, 115 Wolfe Street, Winchester, VA 22601 or to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
Please view obituaries, tribute wall, and guest book at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.